Amid these tense developments, a senior analyst specializing in Middle Eastern affairs cautioned that Iran might retaliate against any U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by leveraging its alliance with the Houthi rebels. Such an act could disrupt another essential shipping lane, escalating tensions further.

This crucial waterway, the Bab al-Mandeb, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and facilitates approximately 12% of the world’s oil shipments. It serves as a pivotal trade route between Asia and Europe. Any obstruction here could severely impact global energy markets, making it a strategic point of concern.

Mona Yacoubian, Director and Senior Adviser at the Middle East Program, discussed the potential repercussions of U.S. actions. “If the U.S. decides to enforce a blockade of the Strait, Iran’s response might involve ensuring that Gulf nations face similar export difficulties,” Yacoubian explained to Fox News Digital.

Yacoubian further elaborated on the potential consequences, suggesting that Iran could resort to attacking Gulf energy infrastructures or might even command the Houthis to obstruct the Bab al-Mandeb. Such moves would undoubtedly heighten the existing strain on global energy resources.

“This could translate to further attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure or even deploying the Houthis to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb,” Yacoubian added.

Yacoubian’s remarks came after Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser on international affairs to Iran’s Supreme Leader, signaled Tehran’s view of the Bab al-Mandeb in light of potential U.S. action to block the Strait of Hormuz.

“Today, the unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz,” he said in a post on X.

Yemeni soldiers patrol the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait (Abdulnasser Alseddik/AP)

“If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move.”

U.S. Central Command released a statement Sunday saying the naval blockade would begin Monday and be “enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.”

President Donald Trump also said the U.S. Navy would block “any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz” in a post on Truth Social.

In March, the U.S. warned ships at the Red Sea chokepoint of Houthi attacks

“The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region,” a maritime advisory said of the Iran-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen.

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Aug. 9, 2023. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/U.S. Navy)

“Potential hostile actions include one-way unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks; unmanned surface vehicle (USV) attacks; unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) attacks; ballistic and cruise missile attacks; small arms fire from small boats; explosive boat attacks; and illegal boardings, detentions, and/or seizures,” it said.

“U.S.-flagged commercial vessels operating in these areas are strongly advised to turn off their AIS transponders,” the advisory stated.

Yacoubian also determined in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report that Iran was threatening to expand the conflict further to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb compounding global market disruptions.

“It could leverage the Houthis, its Yemeni proxy, to once again wage attacks on the strategic waterway, depriving Saudi Arabia of its key workaround for oil shipments given the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.

The Houthis joined Iran’s war against the U.S. and Israel on March 28 when the organization launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel. Both were intercepted.